Personal Opportunities

As part of our mission, Residential Life states that "we want to facilitate students' personal success by promoting and providing opportunities for positive involvement in life outside the classroom."

Here are just a few of our own Residential Life Co-Sponsored Events and links to other fun opportunities here on campus. Watch your floor and lobby bulletin boards, table tents in the dining areas, and your E-Newsletters for additional activities.

Welcome Weekend

Welcome weekend starts the Thursday before fall classes begin with Move-In Day. This weekend is packed full of opportunities for you to meet others on your floor, residence community, and other residence communities.

Following Welcome Weekend the entire campus is invited to more activities to get to know others. Most of these activities are located on or near the Centennial Student Union (CSU).

First 50 Days (Link available closer to Move-In Day.)

The First 50 Days activities give residents an opportunities to get further acclimated to the University. Calendars with both Residential Life and campus-wide activities included.

What's on Wednesday?

Every Wednesday one of the Residence Community's host an activity called What's on Wednesday. These activities are open to all residents of Crawford, McElroy, Preska, Julia Sears, and Stadium Heights. Here are some event activities from past years:

Mocktails and Cheese

Karaoke

Murder Mystery Party

Beach Bash

The Price is Right with Wells Fargo

The Game of Life

Minute to Win It

The Roommate Game

Cocoa & Coloring

Bingo

Pie Your CA

Dress Your CA

Whose Line Is It Anyway?

Outdoor Volleyball and Basketball

Join in on the various sand volleyball and basketball courts for some friendly competition. Pick-up games are going all the time on these courts. Central locations allow interaction with all communities.

Crawford Haunted House

The Crawford Haunted House (put on by Crawford Residents) is in the lower level of Carkoski near the computer lab. This is free and open to all students. This is usually on the last Wednesday in October.

House Party

Each year, the Student Health Services/Health Education Office will co-host an educational event called House Party. Residential Life and Greek Life also often supports this cause. This event usually takes place on the third Wednesday in October from 9:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. Vans usually are available to take people to and from the house. In past years the vans have left from the McElroy, Julia Sears, and Preska lobbies.

The goal is to educate students on the dangers of high-risk drinking. This event is a mock house party where students take a tour of an off-campus house and explore a "house party" from a sober perspective. Student volunteers act out scenarios that students may have encountered at a real house party. Students will be given statistical information about the prevalence of high-risk behaviors and then will be educationed on how they can better keep themselves and their friends safe if they do choose to drink. Come have fun with your friends at this annual event!

Moonlight Breakfast

Need a study break before finals? This usually occurs the Sunday before finals from 10:00 p.m. - 11:30 p.m. Breakfast will be served in the Carkoski Dining Hall by your friendly neighborhood Hall Directors!

Winter Welcome Week

All Current, New, and Transfer students are Welcome at ALL EVENTS!GET INVOLVED AND RE-INVENT YOURSELF... New Year, New You!

Educational Opportunities

It's up to YOU.

While living on campus, keep in mind that at Minnesota State Mankato, the residence communitiess are a lot more than a place to sleep.

As part of our mission, Residential Life states that "we want to facilitate students' academic success by providing education opportunities. Here are some links to our own Residential Life Educational Opportunities and links to other academic opportunities here on campus. Activities, classes, times and offerings may change from year to year.

Student Leadership Opportunities

Chester and Helen Carkoski Scholarship

The Chester and Helen Carkoski Scholarship Award program recognizes residence community student leaders with a good academic record and who have demonstrated volunteer leadership and service in the residence communities. Multiple $1,000 scholarship award recipients will be announced and will be distributed for use this academic year. This scholarship is available to students living in any Minnesota State residence community, excluding current: Community Advisors, Community Advisors and Learning Commmunity Coordinators.

Watch for posters for application details.

Totally Outstanding Participating Students (T.O.P.S.)

NRHH hosts the annual T.O.P.S. ceremony recognizing over 70 residence hall floor community council members. Approximately 270 students attend the event, celebrate their accomplishments from the fall semester, and hear about numerous leadership opportunities for the coming spring, summer, and fall.

Congratulations to the winners! Your hard work makes the residence halls, campus community, and Mankato a better place to live.

Student Leadership

Residence Hall Association (RHA)

The Residence Hall Association (RHA) is the campus-wide government for students living in residence communities. The mission of RHA includes the following purpose statements:

• Voice the opinions and concerns of the students living in the residence halls at Minnesota State University, Mankato to Residential Life and University administration.

• Provide a variety of social and educational programs and events for all residents through RHA initiatives and the sponsorship of each Community Council and the National Residence Hall Honorary.

• Promote the development of positive residence communities, which contribute to the happiness and well-being of students.

• Support the academic success of Minnesota State University, Mankato residents.

All students living in the residence communities are automatically members of the Residence Hall Association. The RHA Representative from each floor community and Stadium Heights building community represents the views and opinions of their constituents as a voting member at RHA Assembly Meetings. The RHA Representatives make up the voting membership of the Residence Hall Association. The RHA Assembly meets weekly. All members are welcome to attend and participate in RHA meetings to express their opinions and concerns about any aspect of living on campus.

RHA is led by an Executive Board of volunteer student leaders elected by the RHA Assembly.

Community Councils

Each floor community and Stadium Heights building community has a Community Council, which provide activities for floor members.

Community Council positions include, but are not limited to, the following:

Floor/Building President

Vice President

RHA Representative

Each Community Council is advised by their Community Advisor (CA). Examples of other Community Council Leadership Positions include Intramural Manager; Community Council Secretary; Birthday Committee; Social Coordinator; Publicity Coordinator; Recycling Coordinator; Academic Recognition Committee; Community Service Coordinator; and MSSA Senator.

National Residence Hall Honorary (NRHH)

The National Residence Hall Honorary (NRHH) is an organization that provides recognition for those individuals living in the residence communities who have demonstrated outstanding services to their residence community and/or the University community.

The mission and purpose of NRHH is to recognize students living on campus for their contributions and to provide leadership training for students. The organization exists to provide opportunities for student leaders to continue to develop other leaders on campus, by acting as a resource and giving support and training to other student leaders. NRHH coordinates the Maverick Award recognition program and the “Of the Month” Awards (OTM’s).